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Ivan Vladislavić’s fiction shows a preoccupation with the South African past in terms of both time and space and with the influence of ideology on the interpretation of the past and of cultural artefacts such as cityscapes, buildings, monuments, photographs, and fine art within the South African context. No study has yet considered Vladislavić’s entire oeuvre in terms of the interaction between time and space and their particular manifestation in concrete cultural expressions that generate meaning that can only be recognized over time and within the limits of different perspectives. In order to situate his work within such a paradigm, this thesis discusses various theories on the representation of time and space and their application and argues that Vladislavić represents concrete reality and abstract ideas about the past and ideologies in an interrelated manner, in order to illuminate the ways in which concrete reality influences perceptions of the past and its associated ideologies, but also how past and ideology, in turn, influence how concrete reality is perceived. His fiction can thus be described as exploring the complex dynamic between concrete and abstract. Perspective plays an important role in his fiction in terms of both his representation of concrete (city and artefacts) and abstract reality (past and ideology). Characters’ perspectives come into play as they negotiate, create and interpret concrete and abstract reality, and in the light of how they ‘see’ the world, their identities are shaped. Vladislavić shows that perspective is inevitably blurred with ideological prejudice. He does so, in such a way, that a reader is often led to reconsider her/his own way of perceiving both concrete and abstract. Cultural artefacts, in particular, mediate perceptions of time and of place; they are (in)formed by ideology and also have singular signifying possibilities and limitations. By drawing attention to his own expression in language, by creating seemingly random lists, or focusing on the multiple meanings of a word in a playful manner, Vladislavić shows that, like artefacts, language too is a medium for mediation that is subject to and formative of ideology. / Thesis (PhD (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Ivan Vladislavić’s fiction shows a preoccupation with the South African past in terms of both time and space and with the influence of ideology on the interpretation of the past and of cultural artefacts such as cityscapes, buildings, monuments, photographs, and fine art within the South African context. No study has yet considered Vladislavić’s entire oeuvre in terms of the interaction between time and space and their particular manifestation in concrete cultural expressions that generate meaning that can only be recognized over time and within the limits of different perspectives. In order to situate his work within such a paradigm, this thesis discusses various theories on the representation of time and space and their application and argues that Vladislavić represents concrete reality and abstract ideas about the past and ideologies in an interrelated manner, in order to illuminate the ways in which concrete reality influences perceptions of the past and its associated ideologies, but also how past and ideology, in turn, influence how concrete reality is perceived. His fiction can thus be described as exploring the complex dynamic between concrete and abstract. Perspective plays an important role in his fiction in terms of both his representation of concrete (city and artefacts) and abstract reality (past and ideology). Characters’ perspectives come into play as they negotiate, create and interpret concrete and abstract reality, and in the light of how they ‘see’ the world, their identities are shaped. Vladislavić shows that perspective is inevitably blurred with ideological prejudice. He does so, in such a way, that a reader is often led to reconsider her/his own way of perceiving both concrete and abstract. Cultural artefacts, in particular, mediate perceptions of time and of place; they are (in)formed by ideology and also have singular signifying possibilities and limitations. By drawing attention to his own expression in language, by creating seemingly random lists, or focusing on the multiple meanings of a word in a playful manner, Vladislavić shows that, like artefacts, language too is a medium for mediation that is subject to and formative of ideology. / Thesis (PhD (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Marie Curie Debates about how best to test people from different contexts and backgrounds continue to hold the spotlight of testing and assessment. In an effort to contribute to the debates, the purpose of the study was to develop and evaluate the viability and utility of nonverbal figural reasoning ability items that were developed based on inspirations from African cultural artefacts such as African material prints, art, decorations, beadwork, paintings, et cetera. The research was conducted in two phases, with phase 1 focused on the development of the new items, while phase 2 was used to evaluate the new items. The aims of the study were to develop items inspired by African art and cultural artefacts in order to measure general nonverbal figural reasoning ability; to evaluate the viability of the items in terms of their appropriateness in representing the African art and cultural artefacts, specifically to determine the face and content validity of the items from a cultural perspective; and to evaluate the utility of the items in terms of their psychometric properties. These elements were investigated using the exploratory sequential mixed method research design with quantitative embedded in phase 2. For sampling purposes, the sequential mixed method sampling design and non-probability sampling strategies were used, specifically the purposive and convenience sampling methods. The data collection methods that were used included interviews with a cultural expert and colour-blind person, open-ended questionnaires completed by school learners and test administration to a group of 946 participants undergoing a sponsored basic career-related training and guidance programme. Content analysis was used for the qualitative data while statistical analysis mainly based on the Rasch model was utilised for quantitative data. The results of phase 1 were positive and provided support for further development of the new items, and based on this feedback, 200 new items were developed. This final pool of items was then used for phase 2 – the evaluation of the new items. The v statistical analysis of the new items indicated acceptable psychometric properties of the general reasoning (“g” or fluid ability) construct. The item difficulty values (pvalues) for the new items were determined using classical test theory (CTT) analysis and ranged from 0.06 (most difficult item) to 0.91 (easiest item). Rasch analysis showed that the new items were unidimensional and that they were adequately targeted to the level of ability of the participants, although there were elements that would need to be improved. The reliability of the new items was determined using the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient (α) and the person separation index (PSI), and both methods indicated similar indices of internal consistency (α = 0.97; PSI = 0.96). Gender-related differential item functioning (DIF) was investigated, and the majority of the new items did not indicate any significant differences between the gender groups. Construct validity was determined from the relationship between the new items and the Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT), which uses traditional item formats to measure fluid ability. The correlation results for the total score of the new items and the pre- and post-tests were 0.616 and 0.712 respectively. The new items were thus confirmed to be measuring fluid ability using nonverbal figural reasoning ability items. Overall, the results were satisfactory in indicating the viability and utility of the new items. The main limitation of the research was that because the sample was not representative of the South African population, there were limited for generalisation. This led to a further limitation, namely that it was not possible to conduct important analysis on DIF for various other subgroups. Further research has been recommended to build on this initiative. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Le but de cette recherche ethnographique, menée au Pérou à partir de 2008, est de restituer les pratiques, les discours moraux et les multiples stratégies qui sous-tendent l’appropriation des vestiges et des pièces archéologiques par plusieurs acteurs. Cette question est abordée à travers le prisme particulier du trafic d’art et des pratiques considérées comme illicites. Une ethnographie itinérante (Marcus, 1995) et une méthodologie basée sur la biographie des objets (Kopytoff, 1986) permettent dereconstruire le circuit de céramiques, de la production (la fouille clandestine) à laconsommation (l’achat) en passant par leur échange, don et contrefaçon. De trésors à biens culturels, d’artefacts à curiosités, le parcours de ces objets met au jour à la fois la multiplicité de leurs usages socio-politiques et l’évolution des instances delégitimation qui les concernent.La thèse s’intéresse plus particulièrement au département de Lambayeque, situé sur la côte nord, connu pour les remarquables découvertes archéologiques (civilisation Mochica) qui y ont eu lieu au cours des dernières décennies. Elle démontre que, loin d’être les fruits d’un consensus, la patrimonialisation et la mise en tourisme, en tantque ressources économiques et symboliques, peuvent exacerber les conflits, en créantdes dynamiques d’inclusion et exclusion. De fait, l’opposition historique entre conservateurs et destructeurs du patrimoine renforce encore davantage l’asymétrie entre professionnels et communautés porteuses, en termes de savoir et de pouvoir. De plus, le manque de filiation des habitants avec les ancêtres (et donc l’absence de continuité et d’ « authenticité »), jugé par les institutions comme en lien avec une attitude destructive et purement marchande, a entravé une réelle participation de la communauté dans la patrimonialisation. Pour en être reconnus en tant qu’acteurs légitimes, et non comme simples bénéficiaires, ils sont ainsi contraints de reformuler leurs régimes de valeur et de renégocier leurs logiques d’appartenance. / The aim of this ethnographic research, carried out in Peru as of 2008, is to map the practices, moral discourses and multiple strategies which underlie the appropriation of relics and archaeological objects by different actors. This topic is analysed through the prism of art trafficking and practices considered to be illicit. A multi-sited ethnography (Marcus 1995) and a methodology based in the biography of objects (Kopytoff, 1986) allows to reconstruct the circuit of ceramics, from production (clandestine digging) to consumption (purchase), through various forms of exchange, gift and counterfeit. From treasures to cultural goods, from artefacts to oddities, the itinerary of these objects sheds light on the multiplicity of their socio-political uses and the evolution of legitimation authorities concerned by them. The thesis focuses more specifically on the region of Lambayeque, on the northern Peruvian coast, which has been characterised by extraordinary archaeological discoveries (Mochica civilisation) over the last few decades. It shows that, far from being the product of consensus, the heritage making and touristic development, as an economic and symbolical resource, can exacerbate conflicts, creating dynamics of inclusion and exclusion. In fact, the historical opposition between heritage conservationists and destroyers reinforces the asymmetry between professionals and bearer communities, in terms of knowledge and power. Moreover, a destructive attitude and commercial interest in relics, considered as the sign of a lack of filiation and therefore of continuity and « authenticity », hinders inhabitants’ participation. In order to be recognized as legitimate actors, and not as simple beneficiaries of heritage making they are obliged to reformulate their value regimes and renegotiate their logics of belonging.